Pretty Vicious Things: A High School Bully Romance (Edgewood Academy Book 1) Read online

  “Next time we’ll do an interview about how much you whine, pinot noir.”

  “Ha,” I said dryly.

  Dad could be so lame.

  “Honestly, you’re making a bigger deal out of that interview than anyone else.” He stood and headed back to the kitchen. “Drink?”

  “Sure.”

  “I only have apple juice.”

  “That’s fine.”

  “Have you phoned your mum yet? Let her know you got here okay?” He closed the fridge and brought me a tall glass of juice. “She’s very anxious to know how you get on here.”

  “If she was so worried about me, she wouldn’t have left to go back to Brazil.”

  Dad rolled his eyes. “We should also make a note in the next interview on how much you complain.”

  “I’m being serious,” I said, shoving him playfully.

  “You’ll be fine for a couple years without her, okay? Don’t make her feel worse than she already does.”

  “Divorced parents are supposed to try and get me to pick sides and hate each other. They’re not supposed to gang up on me.”

  He laughed. “What part of our family is normal, Princess?”

  “Good point."

  ***

  We ate our pizza in front of the TV, watching reruns of Friends and laughing loudly with mouths full of food. It was nice being with my dad when he was so carefree. Usually, he was way too uptight. And he’d turned his phone off the minute we’d walked into his suite (“this is father daughter time,” he’d told me, holding up the device to prove it).

  But once it started getting later, the excitement of the day caught up with me, and I was practically falling asleep on his sofa.

  “You should head back, Isla,” he said, stroking my hair. “You’re exhausted.”

  “I’ll just sleep on the sofa,” I slurred. If I went back to that room, there was a strong chance that Grace would be waiting in there with a knife and a chainsaw.

  Dad laughed. “Come on, get your stuff, I’ll walk you back.”

  “It’s fine.” I sat up and stretched. “I’ll walk myself. I need to start learning how to get around this place, especially as classes start on Monday.”

  “Did you have a look at your schedule? I got you into all the classes you wanted.”

  “Reaping the benefits of your job,” I said, grabbing my clutch. “As if that’s going to make me massively popular.”

  Dad ignored me and walked us to his door. He pulled it open and placed a kiss on my forehead.

  “Text me when you get back.”

  “Will do. Goodnight.”

  “Goodnight, Isla.”

  He closed the door behind me, and I sucked in a deep breath, staring down the dark corridor. Once I left the faculty dorm, I had zero idea where I was going. So I headed north. Seemed as good a place as any. All I knew was that I had to be on the ground floor in order to find my way to the dorms.

  I reached another junction of corridors and stopped. It didn’t look familiar, but it was probably right. No left. No right. Yeah, definitely right. I turned right and a little way ahead of me, a door opened and two boys walked out. A burst of music erupted into the hallway and then instantly quieted when the door shut.

  The boys were dressed in gym wear, towels wrapped around their necks. They were so caught up in their conversation that they didn’t notice me until I had to squeeze past them.

  Both eyes flickered to me, and I blushed and dropped my head. But I saw one nudge the other, heard a whisper and they both laughed.

  Not the greatest reaction I’d ever received.

  I reached the door they’d come from and stopped to peer inside. The door was glass, and it led into a large, square room. The gym. The dreaded magazine had mentioned something about a recently refurbished gym, and from what I could see – which, granted, wasn’t much – the equipment did all look brand new.

  And then something else caught my attention. A boy running on the treadmill nearest to the door. He wore long shorts and a tight vest. His muscles were toned, but not steroid looking. Sweat dripped down his temples, coated his tanned skin.

  I was hypnotised. I couldn’t really make out his face so well, as I could only see half and he was at a distance, but the way his body moved was fluid and graceful and strong.

  A girl walked over to him and placed a hand on the side of the treadmill. He held his finger to a button, and the treadmill slowed right down so that he was at a walk. He turned to look at the blonde wearing, well, not a lot, and smiled at her.

  Douche?

  Oh no way. The guy I’d just been eye-humping was the dick from the train. Of course it was. And now he was eye-humping the girl in front of him. She cocked her head to the side, tossed back her hair and reached out to touch his bicep.

  I didn’t like the flicker of jealousy in my stomach.

  Douche turned off the treadmill, jumped down, slung an arm around her shoulders and together they started walking my way.

  Shit, I had to get out of here before I was caught looking. I turned and slammed straight into a hard body. Gulping, I looked up and staring down at me was a pair of dark, brown eyes. Eyes that belonged to a very big, very handsome boy.

  He grinned and stepped back.

  “Whoa, you okay?” he asked.

  “I’m so sorry,” I said, rubbing the cheek that had slammed into his chest. “I didn’t even see you.”

  “You looked like you wanted to get away from the gym in a hurry.”

  Which reminded me… I danced around the newcomer, standing behind him so he had to turn to talk to me. But at least his large frame blocked me from being seen. The gym door opened and out came the gruesome twosome. They went in the direction I’d come from and didn’t once spare a glance back.

  “Avoiding someone?”

  I startled. “Huh? Oh, no. Not really.”

  “I’m Henry.” He stuck out a big hand and I shook it gently.

  “Isla.”

  “I know who you are,” he said with a smile. “The new principal’s daughter.”

  “Yeah,” I said unenthusiastically.

  “You look a little lost. Where you headed?”

  “Back to the dorm?”

  “I’ll walk you. These halls can get scary at night.”

  He turned and started walking in the same direction the douche had gone in. So I had gone in the wrong direction.

  “So, Isla, where did you move from?” Henry asked.

  “Central London,” I answered. “Around the Westminster area.”

  “Nice,” he answered. “I have an aunt who lives up them sides.”

  “Oh. Cool. Are you local?”

  “Unfortunately,” he answered. “Next town up. Means I get to go home at the weekends, if I want. But, weirdly, I kinda prefer it here.”

  With Henry at my side and making pleasant conversation with me, the trip back to the dorms took no time at all. And though I’d secretly been hoping we’d run into the douche again, if only so I could ask Henry who he was and finally put a name to the face, we never ran across them.

  “Well, this is you,” Henry said, stopping outside of the Trafalgar door.

  “Which one are you?” I asked.

  “Armstrong,” he answered.

  “Okay, good to know,” I said.

  He smiled. He had a nice smile. “It was nice meeting you, Isla. I’ll see you at breakfast?”

  I nodded. “Yeah, definitely. And it was nice meeting you, too.”

  He waved and began to back away, never once taking his eyes from me. I grinned stupidly to myself and unlocked the block door. Loud music blared from somewhere, but I ignored it, heading for the stairs to the second floor.

  I was fantasising about having a nice hot bath when I opened the door to my room. Which might have explained why I never saw the naked couple until I was already at the foot of my bed.

  A boy, a very toned and bulky hairy boy, was standing at the end of Grace’s bed, one hand gripped around the bed
post, the other tangled into Grace’s red hair. And the girl in question? On all fours, head bobbing up and down while she…

  Oh God.

  I almost vomited. I backed away, tripped over a box, and landed flat on my ass, the noise finally breaking through the heavy grunting and lip smacking.

  Grace squealed. “Oh my God, what are you doing in here, you perverted bint?”

  “I-Its…this is my room!” I exclaimed, outraged. “And boys aren’t supposed to be in here.”

  Grace mimicked me and rolled her eyes. “Oh grow up, Virgin Mary. Charlie comes in here all the time. He’s my boyfriend.”

  “Well you and your boyfriend can go find somewhere else to do that,” I said, shielding the side of my face so I couldn’t see their naked bodies anymore.

  The boy, Charlie, laughed. “Or, we could continue and you join in?”

  “Ha! I don’t think so!”

  “You kidding me, baby?” Grace pouted. “Didn’t you read that interview she gave? Little miss perfect over here won’t have sex until she’s married and in love.”

  “Serious?” Charlie let out a low breath. “You don’t hear many people doing that these days. Anyway, you don’t have to have sex. Just come and play for a while.”

  “I’m fine. Thank you.” I ground my teeth together, clambered up off the floor and yanked open my closet, giving me something else to focus on.

  “Baby,” he said, to who I assumed was Grace, “Don’t stop. I was enjoying that.”

  “But she’s in here.”

  “So?”

  There was a pause and then the lip smacking started and Charlie let out a low groan. “Ah, yeah, like that.”

  I was really going to vomit now. I grabbed my wash bag and a towel and made for the door, trying not to look at them.

  “You both better be done by the time I get back,” I warned, slamming the door shut behind me as Grace gargled a retort.

  I took my time showering, shaving my legs, bikini line and armpits. I washed my hair three times and even rubbed my lotion on in the communal bathroom rather than risk going back into that room for part two of the show.

  If I had a hairdryer in here, I’d have blow dried my hair too.

  I’d been gone just over half an hour. They had to be done now. Hesitantly, I reached forward and let myself in the room. It stunk of sweat and breath, but Grace was sat at her desk in a robe and was alone.

  Thank goodness.

  I changed into my pyjamas and tried not to look at Grace. Her pale skin was red and flushed and patchy. Her bed sheets were hanging off the bed. I mean, it wasn’t unheard of for girls my age to have sex. I’d be seventeen in a few months. And for all I knew, Grace might already be seventeen, which was above the age law. But to see her do it so callously, and unapologetically?

  Biting my lip, I shook the thoughts from my head.

  I really was a prude.

  “Stop doing that,” Grace hissed.

  I stopped brushing my still damp hair. “Stop what?”

  “Letting off your stench of judgement. He’s my boyfriend. We fuck. Get over it.”

  “I’m not judging you,” I said.

  “Yes, you are.”

  “You can do what you like behind closed doors,” I said, standing and moving to my own desk. “But at least have some respect not to do it around me.”

  Grace laughed bitterly and shook her head. “Or what? You’ll run and tell your dad? That’ll be a good way to make friends.”

  I didn’t say anything. I’d never even thought about telling my dad, but I knew that’s what people would think. Piss me off and I might run and tell tales.

  “Whatever,” I snapped. “Do what you want.”

  “I will.”

  For the rest of the evening, Grace stayed silent, and I liked it that way.

  I read a novel, glad I’d had the forethought to pack some books, until it got late and then I turned my lights off and snuggled in to sleep.

  Chapter 4

  Sophie knocked on my door at eight on the dot. She was lucky I hadn’t slept well last night and had been awake early. Grace’s alarm had been set for seven, and so she was ready too. But it was a Saturday. Why were these kids up so early?

  “Ready for breakfast?” Sophie asked, pushing her way into the room.

  She was dressed in a light blue wrap around dress and a cute pair of brown wedges. Stunning, just like yesterday. I looked down at my own jeans and blouse and felt remarkably underdressed for what I had assumed was only breakfast.

  “I’m ready. I think,” I answered.

  Sophie smiled and it was breathtaking. “Grace? You ready? Or are you too tired from last night’s activities?”

  Grace shot me a look. “You told her?”

  I shook my head. “I don’t even have her number. How could I have told her?”

  Sophie held up her hands in surrender, laughing. “Oh quite being such a drama queen, Grace. The whole dorm heard you. You’ve been dubbed ‘the squealer’.”

  Grace’s cheeks darkened while I tried with everything in me not to laugh.

  “Alas, an omelette is calling me, so let’s continue this downstairs.”

  Sophie linked her arm through mine, much to Grace’s dismay and together we left and made the journey to the dining hall.

  “So what did you get up to while Grace was riding her stallion?” Sophie asked.

  I shrugged. “I had dinner with my dad, and then came back here. Oh, but I did run into someone. His name’s Henry? Know him?”

  Grace snorted and turned her head away. Sophie’s expression darkened and she shot Grace a dirty look. “Henry and I used to date.”

  Oh shit. “Oh, you did?” What did I say? Sorry, I thought your ex was hot and secretly I was hoping to maybe date him myself?

  Suddenly, Sophie started laughing. “You look like you’re gonna have a heart attack. Hey, don’t sweat it! We’re not together anymore.”

  “It doesn’t matter. I won’t go there. Girl code and all.”

  “You know about the girl code?” Grace asked in disbelief. “Wait, of course you would. You’re so perfect and pure, you probably wrote it.”

  “Grace, quit it,” Sophie warned. “Anyway,” she turned back to me, “if you want to get to know him, you officially have my permission.”

  Though her words might have said yes, I knew her heart said no. And I wasn’t about to piss off the first friend I’d made at this school because of one guy.

  “Well, we’ll see,” I conceded.

  We arrived at the dining hall and I gasped. It was like a scene out of Harry Potter. The ceiling was so high up, I had to crane my neck to see it. The hall was the largest room I’d ever seen. About fifty tables were placed throughout the room, big enough to fit maybe ten to twelve students per one.

  Sophie waved to everyone as we walked in, but their eyes were mostly trained on me. People whispered. Some more obviously than others. I was judged and assessed and watched. But with Sophie at my side, her smile brighter than any bulb, I felt okay. I felt strong.

  “I’m so hungry,” she said, grabbing a tray and handing it to me. We got to the kitchen and went straight for the hot food. “You have to try their omelettes. Some of the best I’ve ever had.”

  “I’ll take your word for it.”

  A plump lady with curly black hair pulled up into a net staggered to the counter and smiled warmly at us.

  “Good morning, Sophie. Grace. Oh, and you must be Isla!” she exclaimed.

  “Good morning, Joyce,” Sophie greeted, all smiles and sweetness, but when Joyce turned to grab the bowl of eggs behind her, Sophie rolled her eyes and puffed out her cheeks, imitating Joyce.

  I gave her a half smile, but I wasn’t one for making fun of others.

  “How’ve you been?” Sophie asked Joyce. “Everything okay with your family?”

  Joyce looked delighted. “Oh, Sophie, you’re always such a pleasure to talk to. Yes, everything is fine. We’re all happy and healthy.”

/>   “Good, I’m glad. Give the hubby my regards.”

  “I will!” Joyce faced me. “What would you like in your omelette?”

  “Bacon and mushroom?”

  “Sure.”

  Sophie rambled on about the foods served in the dining hall while Joyce made our breakfast. I noticed that Grace had grabbed some pastries and left ages ago, so it was just Sophie and me. No other students walked in to grab anything.

  Finally, our food was done and Sophie was so polite and kind to the dining attendant, that I almost wondered if I’d imagined her earlier jibes at Joyce’s weight. And then, the minute we stepped out of the kitchen area, Sophie was curling her lip.

  “She really should lose some weight,” Sophie said. “Don’t you think?”

  I cleared my throat. “It’s her business, I guess.”

  “It’s not healthy. It’s not exactly a good example to set.”

  I didn’t say anything. Maybe Sophie was genuinely concerned about Joyce’s weight. Maybe she was being a bitch. I couldn’t understand how she easily switched from one personality to another. I had to be missing something.

  The table we walked to was made up of two tables pushed together. And it was by far the busiest and loudest table of them all. I smiled to myself. I’d managed to grab myself a spot with the popular people. How had that happened?

  Sophie sat down and gestured for me to sit in the seat next to her – the only other free seat there. I plonked down a little harder than intended and the table shook, making Sophie laugh.

  “Ready for me to introduce you?”

  My eyes widened slightly. “I think they all probably know who I am.”

  “Because of your interview? Trust me, most people here don’t read. They especially wouldn’t read the Zine. It’s not exactly our kind of thing. I read it because I’m the student president and it’s my job to know as much as I can about the school. Let me introduce you.”

  I looked away from Sophie and in front of me, which was when I locked eyes with a familiar pair of sparkling blues. The douche. Of course he would sit here. But maybe at least I’d finally learn his name.

  “Everyone, everyone,” Sophie said and they all instantly shut up. “This is Isla. She’s new here. You better all make her feel comfortable and welcome. Don’t embarrass me!”